{"product_id":"courtesan-on-white-elephant-suzuki-harunobu-1","title":"Courtesan on White Elephant - Suzuki Harunobu","description":"\u003cp\u003eA delicate woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu featuring a courtesan riding a white elephant amidst clouds, rendered in the nishiki-e style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu depicts a woman dressed in the attire of a high-ranking courtesan, seated atop a white elephant. The figure holds a scroll, a common motif in Japanese art that often references literary or religious themes. Harunobu is credited with the development of nishiki-e, or brocade prints, which allowed for the use of multiple colours in a single composition. This work demonstrates his characteristic style, featuring slender, ethereal figures and a delicate use of line.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe elephant, an animal not native to Japan, appears in this context as a symbolic or mythological creature. It is surrounded by swirling clouds, suggesting a celestial or dreamlike setting. The artist employs a muted palette, relying on soft tones to define the robes and the animal's form. The composition is balanced, with the verticality of the figure offset by the horizontal presence of the elephant. The fine lines used to delineate the hair and the patterns on the kimono demonstrate the technical precision required for multi-block printing during the Edo period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHarunobu's work often focused on the lives of women in the pleasure districts of Edo. By placing a courtesan in a scene typically reserved for deities or legendary figures, he creates a juxtaposition between the mundane world and the realm of myth. The print reflects the aesthetic preferences of the time, where grace and refinement were prioritised over realism. The paper texture remains visible, providing a tactile quality to the image. This print is a representative example of the mid-Edo period's artistic output, where the technical capabilities of woodblock printing reached a high level of sophistication.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Suzuki Harunobu","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58927351726415,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58927416672591,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58927416705359,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58927416738127,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58927416770895,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58927416803663,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58927416836431,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58927416869199,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58927416901967,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58927416934735,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58927416967503,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58927417000271,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Courtesan-on-White-Elephant_Poster_CompositorV1_1790699054258.jpg?v=1790701179","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/de\/products\/courtesan-on-white-elephant-suzuki-harunobu-1","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}